Latest news with #MaharashtraAncientMonumentsandArchaeologicalSitesandRemainsAct
Economic Times
3 days ago
- Politics
- Economic Times
SC refuses to urgently hear plea against order allowing animal slaughter for Eid-ul-Azha at 'dargah'
Agencies Supreme Court (File Photo) The Supreme Court on Friday refused to accord urgent hearing on a plea challenging the Bombay High Court order which permitted animal slaughter for Eid-ul-Azha and Urs at a 'dargah' at Vishalgad fort in Maharashtra's Kolhapur fort is a protected monument, citing which the authorities had prohibited slaughtering of animals and birds on the plea challenging the high court's June 3 order was mentioned for urgent listing before a bench of Justices Sanjay Karol and Satish Chandra Sharma. "Tomorrow, Bakri Eid is there and in a protected monument, Vishalgad, in Maharashtra, the high court has permitted slaughter," the counsel, who mentioned the matter, said. He said the high court has allowed animal slaughter in the protected monument area also for Urs till June 12. "In protected monuments, so many religious activities are going on," the bench lawyer claimed there was a specific notification of the state of Maharashtra which said animals cannot be slaughtered in the protected said last year, animal slaughter within enclosed premises was permitted by the high counsel said the high court has said in its order that restrictions which were there last year, would apply this year also."Be it of any religion or faith, in a protected monument, so many activities are going on," the bench observed."Let me tell you, sitting in Tripura (high court), I had banned animal slaughter there and then this court modified the order to say, in an enclosed place it would be carried out," Justice Karol counsel then urged the bench to list the matter for hearing next week. "What is the urgency? The matter would be infructuous," the bench observed. A vacation bench of the high court had heard an application by Hazrat Peer Malik Rehan Dargah Trust, seeking permission for slaughtering animals. The high court had permitted animal slaughter for Eid-ul-Azha to be celebrated on June 7 and the four-day Urs (fair) to be held from June 8 to 12 at the 'dargah' at Vishalgad had said the order shall extend not just to the 'dargah' trust but to other devotees high court had said similar permission was granted last year had added that conditions imposed last year like carrying out the animal slaughter only in private and enclosed space specifically at Gate No. 19, which is privately-owned by Mubarak Usman Mujawar, and not in public areas, shall apply this year too. The Deputy Director of Archaeology had prohibited animal sacrifice at the fort, citing the Maharashtra Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act. The trust argued that the sacrifice was an "age-old practice" conducted on private land 1.4 km away from the fort, and that the meat was distributed to pilgrims and villagers nearby.
Time of India
3 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
SC refuses to urgently hear plea against order allowing animal slaughter for Eid-ul-Azha at 'dargah'
The Supreme Court on Friday refused to accord urgent hearing on a plea challenging the Bombay High Court order which permitted animal slaughter for Eid-ul-Azha and Urs at a 'dargah' at Vishalgad fort in Maharashtra 's Kolhapur district. The fort is a protected monument, citing which the authorities had prohibited slaughtering of animals and birds on the premises. The plea challenging the high court's June 3 order was mentioned for urgent listing before a bench of Justices Sanjay Karol and Satish Chandra Sharma. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Air conditioners without external unit. (click to see prices) Air Condition | Search Ads Search Now Undo "Tomorrow, Bakri Eid is there and in a protected monument, Vishalgad, in Maharashtra, the high court has permitted slaughter," the counsel, who mentioned the matter, said. He said the high court has allowed animal slaughter in the protected monument area also for Urs till June 12. Live Events "In protected monuments, so many religious activities are going on," the bench observed. The lawyer claimed there was a specific notification of the state of Maharashtra which said animals cannot be slaughtered in the protected area. He said last year, animal slaughter within enclosed premises was permitted by the high court. The counsel said the high court has said in its order that restrictions which were there last year, would apply this year also. "Be it of any religion or faith, in a protected monument, so many activities are going on," the bench observed. "Let me tell you, sitting in Tripura (high court), I had banned animal slaughter there and then this court modified the order to say, in an enclosed place it would be carried out," Justice Karol said. The counsel then urged the bench to list the matter for hearing next week. "What is the urgency? The matter would be infructuous ," the bench observed. A vacation bench of the high court had heard an application by Hazrat Peer Malik Rehan Dargah Trust , seeking permission for slaughtering animals. The high court had permitted animal slaughter for Eid-ul-Azha to be celebrated on June 7 and the four-day Urs (fair) to be held from June 8 to 12 at the 'dargah' at Vishalgad fort. It had said the order shall extend not just to the 'dargah' trust but to other devotees too. The high court had said similar permission was granted last year too. It had added that conditions imposed last year like carrying out the animal slaughter only in private and enclosed space specifically at Gate No. 19, which is privately-owned by Mubarak Usman Mujawar, and not in public areas, shall apply this year too. The Deputy Director of Archaeology had prohibited animal sacrifice at the fort, citing the Maharashtra Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act. The trust argued that the sacrifice was an "age-old practice" conducted on private land 1.4 km away from the fort, and that the meat was distributed to pilgrims and villagers nearby.
Hindustan Times
3 days ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
SC declines to interfere with nod for animal sacrifice at Kolhapur fort dargah
The Supreme Court on Friday declined to interfere with a prior judicial order that allowed animal sacrifice during Eid al-Adha and urs (annual gathering) at a Sufi shrine within the Vishalgad Fort precincts in Maharashtra's Kolhapur district. A bench of justices Sanjay Karol and Satish Chandra Sharma said there was no urgency in hearing the matter, particularly since the Bombay high court's order imposed conditions on the religious rituals. When counsel opposing the high court's order argued that Vishalgad Fort is a protected monument under state law, the bench pointed out that religious practices are routinely observed in protected monuments across the country. On June 4, the Bombay high court permitted animal sacrifice for the Islamic festival of Eid al-Adha and the urs. It clarified that the permission extended not just to the Dargah (shrine) Trust but also to individual devotees participating in the religious observances. The high court was hearing an interlocutory application filed by the Hajrat Peer Malik Rehan Mira Saheb Dargah Trust, which challenged a directive issued by the deputy director of archaeology prohibiting animal sacrifice within the fort premises. Noting that a coordinate bench ruled on the issue earlier this month, the high court held: 'Considering the fact that a coordinate bench of this court in its order dated June 14, 2024, has already dealt with the issue and permitted prayer A of the present interlocutory application, the same shall continue for the festival of Bakrid [Eid al-Adha], which is on June 7, and the urs from June 8 to 12.' The June 14, 2024, order imposed specific conditions on the animal sacrifices, stating they must take place only in private, enclosed premises, specifically at Gate No 19, which is privately owned by Shri Mubarak Usman Mujawar, and not in any public area. The high court emphasised that these conditions must be strictly followed. During the hearing before the high court, the Dargah Trust informed the court that police were not allowing access to the dargah after 5pm. The court replied that this issue would be addressed by the regular court. The dispute began in 2023 when the Dargah Trust approached the court after the deputy director of archaeology prohibited animal sacrifices within the fort, citing the Maharashtra Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act. The authorities reportedly relied on a 1998 ruling by the Aurangabad bench of the Bombay high court, which held that animal sacrifice in the name of gods or goddesses in public places was strictly prohibited. In response, the trust contended that the sacrifices are part of an 'age-old practice' conducted on private land, approximately 1.4 km from the fort, and that the meat is distributed to pilgrims and local villagers. Despite the deputy director's prohibition, the trust maintained that its religious practices were not conducted in public spaces or on protected land.
The Hindu
6 days ago
- General
- The Hindu
Bombay High Court permits animal sacrifice during Id, Urs at Vishalgad dargah
The Bombay High Court on Tuesday (June 3, 2025) allowed animal sacrifice during Id and Urs (death anniversary of a Sufi saint) celebrations at a dargah located within the precincts of the Vishalgad Fort in Kolhapur district of Maharashtra. Permitting animal slaughter during the festivities, a Division Bench of Justices (Vacation Bench), Neela K. Gokhale and Firdosh P. Pooniwalla also placed certain conditions to comply with. The Bench was hearing an application by the Hajrat Peer Malik Rehan Mira Saheb Dargah Trust, challenging a directive from the Deputy Director of Archaeology who had prohibited animal slaughter within the fort premises. The authorities cited that the ban was based on provisions of the Maharashtra Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act that prohibits slaughtering of animals and birds on the premises of a protected monument. A 1998 Aurangabad Bench judgment prohibits public animal sacrifices. The Dargah Trust argued that the practice of animal sacrifice is an age-old practice going on the private land that is 1.4 km away from the fort and that the meat from sacrifice is distributed among the pilgrims and villagers. The vacation Bench said, 'Considering the fact that a coordinate Bench has passed an order on June 14, 2024, and has already dealt with the issue and has permitted the prayer of the present IA, the same shall continue during the forthcoming festival of Id which is on June 7 and the Urs from June 8 to June 12.' Disposing of the trust's application, the Bench observed, 'Needless to state, the same conditions which have been imposed in the June 14, 2024 order shall apply to the petitioners in the present interim application and also to devotees of dargah who come to sacrifice animals during Id and Urs. The conditions imposed on June 14, 2024, order shall be strictly complied with.'
Hindustan Times
29-04-2025
- General
- Hindustan Times
Rohida Fort gets state-protected monument tag
The Maharashtra government on April 28 declared Rohida Fort, located in Bhor tehsil of Pune district, as a state protected monument. The decision came six months after the state tourism and cultural affairs department issued a notification in October 2024 inviting objection over the proposal. The fort has been declared a state protected monument under Sub-Section (1) of Section 4 of the Maharashtra Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1960. Rohida Fort, also known as Rohideshwar and Vichitragad, is located nearly 61 km from Pune. The base village of the fort is Bajarwadi which is 7 km from Bhor tehsil. Built during the Yadav period, the popular fort has historical, cultural and natural significance. As the authorities did not receive any objection after issuing the notification, a government resolution (GR) declaring the fort as a protected monument was published on April 28. As per the GR, the fort was handed over to the Mughals in the treaty of Purandar in 1666. Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj recaptured the fort on June 24, 1670. The fort has three gates at right angles to each other, six bastions on the fortification wall and multiple water tanks. Following the government's decision, the forest department will hand over ownership of the protected monument spread across at least 10.10 acres to the state archaeology department. Sachin Joshi, archaeological researcher at Deccan College of Archaeology, Pune and member of state-level Gad-Kille Samvardhan, said, 'In 2015, the committee submitted a proposal to provide state protected monument status to nearly 80 forts in Maharashtra, including Rohida. While nearly 12 forts were declared state protected monuments, the Covid pandemic and some other reasons delayed the status for other forts. Declaring Rohida Fort as a state protected monument is a crucial step towards conservation of the ancient structure.' 'The fort was built even before Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj's period. There is more scope for excavation to unearth the previous structure, but it should be carried out in a scientific manner. I hope the state archaeology department will undertake the work in the near future, he said.
